Classroom Awards

Don't  throw away those old youth and high school trophies you have won! They are wonderful awards in your classroom for competitions, tournaments, or positive reinforcements in your classroom.  The kids will do anything to win a trophy or even have it home for the night.

 Some of the ways I use a trophy in my classroom are...
 1. Student of the Day or Week (kind, helpful, good listener)
 This is a Traveling Trophy.
 2. Artist of the Week
 3. In the Winter I have various Tournaments in which trophies are won by the kiddos
 4. End of the year- Minute to Win It games

 Before I give away the trophy I remove the plate on the trophy and replace it with a sticker or a piece of paper for the current award. It doesn't matter what the trophy top is, the kids are just excited to have it.

 It is funny when the following year teacher tells me the trophy has come back to school for sharing or "Student of the Week".

 Don't get rid of those trophies, use them in your classroom, but save a few for your own children, because they will want to bring them to  school for their own sharing time to show their classmates!

A Strategic Game-Yikerz!

Yikerz! is a  fun game I came across at the Minnesota Kindergarten convention. I watched different people playing it with one of the vendors and thought I've got to have this game, so I bought one!  The kiddos in the class loved it.  They would gather around and watch the two players playing it.  There were always squeals when the Yiker pieces collapsed together.  The next year I bought another one.  The kiddos use strategy to play the game.  I use it in centers during the middle to end part of the year. 

It was a 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Kid Winner

It says it is a 14+ age, but my kiddos had no problem with it.

The Contents Include
4 game board triangles 
20 Yiker pieces (Magnetic triangles)
storage pouch

The object of the game is players take turns placing their Yikerz on the game board.  During a turn, if two or more Yikerz collapse(attract) together into a group, the player must take the whole group back.  The first player to get rid of all their Yikerz first wins the game!

The 4 triangle game board pieces can be set up in different configurations and levels, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced.

It also has fun alternatives to play the game.

If you like a fun game try Yikerz!

Morning Music Playlists Throughout the Year

Every year I have a music list set up on my ipod with a variety of songs.  Each year I‘ve tweaked the lists some.  I try to match monthly happenings to each playlist.

Minnesota’s Kindergarten Association hosts a great kindergarten convention and has had all of the music artists as guests, so to say the least I have many CD’s.   The playlists really gave me a great way to use many songs.

I love music and it teaches so many skills.  It’s also fun to watch and listen to the kiddos learn the songs.  They have favorites too.

Starting in October I play Let’s Count to 100 by Jack

Hartman every day after lunch/recess.  They kiddos have movement and seem to be ready for the afternoon activities.

Some of the morning songs I use instruments.  The kiddos love to use them.  I actually have a chart with a picture of each instrument and I pair it with student table numbers, so I always know that everyone has had a chance to play the different instruments.

To find my list stop by my Teachers Pay Teachers store and get it for FREE!!!  Be sure to comment on it and let me know how you liked it! 

Thimble Game

Playing games are an important part of my school day.

It teaches the kiddos 

1. Rules

2. Taking turns

3. How to be a good loser and winner.
4. Decision making
5. Social Skills
6. Patience
7. Engaging

One of the games my kiddos love to play is the Thimble Game.   This is a game that causes squealing and great anticipation with all the kiddos in the class!         

Here is how to play the Thimble Game.

 Needed: 1 Thimble
 1 small cup or bowl of water, 1 pad of paper, and 1 pencil 

Directions:

• Choose one person to be "it", my special helper is usually the person I choose to start the game. 
• I have the rest of the kiddos in the class sit down in a circle. 
• I pick a category, such as animals, colors, clothing, fruit, farm animals, the categories are endless. I tell the group what category we are using. 
• The special helper picks a “MY FAVORITE” item from that category, I write it on the pad of paper, and turn it face down.  
• The special helper takes the thimble and fills it with water from the cup/bowl and goes to the first person of the group who must say an item from the category.
•  If the item is not the hidden word written on the pad "it" goes to the next person.
•  When someone finally says the hidden word "it" splashes that person with the thimble full of water and now that person is "it".
• I may choose another category during our play.

This game is always a favorite each year. What games do your kids like to play and why?

How to Garage Sale For The Classroom

In Minnesota we are soon coming into the summer season, which also means yard and garage sale season!  My sisters, mom and daughter are all garage sale queens.  Most of us have a purpose and an idea of what we want to shop for at the sales except my mom.  She buys for all of us and more!

School items are always at the top of my list.  As I go to a sale the first thing I check out is ...
    1.  Quality and well made toy sets(farm, gas stations,etc.)
    2.  Legos
    2.  Games with all pieces and in good condition. I turn them into math or literacy games
    3.  Boggle
    4. Scrabble game tiles  (I use them for math and literacy)
    5.  Books
    6.  Craft Items
    7. Magnetic Alphabet
    8. Anything Alphabet
    9. Craft items
    10. Office supply items
 

Today I was excited because I found two items that were great.  I found a clock that plays Christmas music on the hour.  It is a great tool for the classroom.  Every time it plays a song the kids look up and say the time!  I already have the bird song clock that tweets.  There is an inspirational sound clock that plays Amazing Grace, but I haven't found that.  I think my ideal clock would be a Cockoo clock, but I'm not so sure I'll find that.

The  other item I found was a set of hanging chimes.  I hang them from the ceiling and I have a baton that is used to tap them.  It is a signal in my classroom to begin our day.  One of the classroom jobs for the week is to ring the chimes.  I also use them to get a complete silence and look at me during reading and writing time.

Don't go past a yard sale and not stop, you'll never know what treasures you can find for your classroom.

Assessment Tool Using A Pocket Chart

I hate the thought of all the constant testing that is done in school.  One comment I got was," Don’t you want to know where you’re kiddos are at?” 

I  know where they are, and it doesn't  involve 30 or more minutes of testing each day.  That means I've lost 30 or more minutes of current events, reading a good book, or just good enriching language each day in my classroom!  I  don’t believe that's what we want to lose in our day. 

I’m not saying don’t assess, but I wanted to do it quick and effectively.  I use cards that I've made to do the assessment!  I laminate my cards and have them ready to go! 

There needs to be some type of assessment to guide my teaching in a direction of child learning and skills.

• I want it done right away in the morning.
• I want it done independently by the kiddos and quickly.
• I  want it to be non-pressured.
• It want to be a part of the scope and sequence of curriculum.
• I want it done quickly and efficiently.

I started a morning pocket chart question that could be done with the kiddos

in a blink of an eye.

I have the pocket chart cards as one of the morning jobs before class time begins.  It's part of my morning jobs.

I don't keep track of the assessment in a record book, but I will jot down something I need to remember or want to note as an area of concern for a kiddo.  

This is what I like about the pocket chart questions and the information I get from it. 

• Do the kiddos understand the concept?
• Are the kiddos responsible in answering the card?
• Can I evaluate in the blink of an eye?

Why not use a pocket chart to assess your kids? It's a great way to get information quickly!  Do you have any fast ways that work for you to assess your kiddos?

Re-model at The Teacher Bin

It's true The Teacher Bin has been on a LONG break from blogging.  We were working hard on getting lessons up for the past school year.  For those of you that shopped at The Teacher Bin this school year thank you very much!  We look forward to many more lessons!  Check back regularly at the blog to keep up-to-date on the latest tips, lessons, and recommendations!